Neodymium

rare-earth metal · element 60 · powerful magnets · sparkly chemistry

Element number 60. Neodymium is the fourth member of a special family of metals called lanthanides. It was discovered in 1885 by an Austrian chemist named Carl Auer von Welsbach, who found it hidden in minerals like monazite and bastnäsite.

Turns colorful when exposed. When neodymium reacts with air and moisture, it creates stunning compounds in shades of pink, purple, blue, and yellow. Scientists say it has one of the most complex and colorful spectra of all the elements.

Super strong magnets. Neodymium is the secret ingredient in some of the world's strongest permanent magnets, which are used in everything from headphones and electric motors to wind turbines and MRI machines.

More common than you'd think. Despite its fancy name, neodymium is about as common in the Earth's crust as cobalt, nickel, or copper. Most of the world's supply comes from mining in China.

Silvery and slightly bendy. Neodymium is a hard, silvery metal that can bend a little bit, but it quickly tarnishes when exposed to air because it reacts with moisture and oxygen around it.